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When Jasmine’s car collides with Antonio’s, she expects nothing more than an accident report and a headache. But from the moment he lays eyes on her, Antonio is captivated—her beauty, her presence, the quiet fire in her eyes. She’s been hurt before, and love is not something she’s searching for. All she wants is peace, warmth, and a place where she feels safe.

But Antonio is not a man who walks away from what he wants. And from the moment he sees her, he knows—he wants her.

HIS ENDEAVORS

The warehouse was silent now, except for the faint sound of labored breathing. The man in the chair was barely conscious, his head slumped forward, blood dripping from his split lip onto the floor. Antonio stood over him, wiping the blade clean with a handkerchief, his expression cold and unreadable.

Konrad let out a low whistle. "Well, that was thorough."

Antonio ignored him and turned to Vincent, who had been watching from the shadows. "Make sure he's dropped off where he belongs. Let his people know this is a warning. Next time, there won't be one."

Vincent gave a curt nod before signaling to a few men who stepped forward to handle the mess.

Antonio rolled down his sleeves, buttoning the cuffs with precise movements. His mind was already shifting away from the scene in front of him, moving to the next issue on his list.

But for the first time in a long time, that issue wasn't business.

He hadn't spoken to her since the event, but she had occupied his thoughts in a way that unsettled him. There was something about her—something that felt like a quiet storm brewing on the horizon.

And Antonio had never been one to ignore a storm.

He slipped on his jacket and turned to Konrad. "Stay close to the clinic."

Konrad raised an eyebrow. "You think she's in danger?"

Antonio's jaw tightened. "I don't like unknown variables."

Konrad smirked. "Right. And this has nothing to do with the fact that you're obviously interested in her?"

Antonio shot him a look, and Konrad held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll keep an eye on her."

Antonio didn't reply. He simply walked out, his mind set on what needed to be done next.

And for the first time in years, that next step wasn't just about business.

Jasmine had barely had time to breathe since the event. Work had picked up, and with new clients coming in, she had thrown herself into her sessions, determined to keep her mind focused on her job.

But even as she listened to her clients, as she guided them through their struggles, her own thoughts drifted.

To the warning that had settled in the back of her mind like an itch she couldn't scratch.

She had never been the type to get caught up in someone else's world, yet somehow, she felt like she had been pulled into Antonio's without even realizing it.

And then there was her newest client—Isabella De Luca.

Jasmine sat at her desk, flipping through the appointment schedule. Isabella's session was later today, and she still wasn't sure what to expect.

Before she could overthink it any further, a knock on her office door pulled her from her thoughts.

Caleb, her coworker, poked his head in. "Hey, just checking in. You good?"

Jasmine forced a small smile. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind."

Caleb nodded, stepping inside. "Well, if you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me."

She appreciated that. Caleb was one of the few people she trusted at work, and though she wasn't ready to discuss the chaos in her mind, it was nice to know someone had her back.

Even if, deep down, she wasn't so sure.

And with Isabella's session approaching, Jasmine had a feeling things were only about to get more complicated.

Chapter Thirteen